A knitted hat that covers the head and neck, with openings for the eyes and sometimes the mouth.
Named after the town of Balaklava in Crimea, where British troops suffered through the brutal winter during the Crimean War (1853-1856). The knitted face masks were sent by women back home to protect soldiers from frostbite during the siege. The Battle of Balaclava was also where the famous Charge of the Light Brigade occurred, making this practical winter gear forever linked to one of military history's most famous disasters.
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